WEST AFRICA – Nestlé has developed a nutritious sorghum-based porridge that upcycles a Milo side stream to fully valorise raw materials and avoid nutrient loss.

The product uses a sorghum side stream from the Nestlé factory in Agbara, Nigeria that is highly nutritious but is typically discarded during the production of malt for Milo.

To meet regional needs and tastes, the sorghum is then blended with cereals such as wheat and maize.

Developed through a scientifically validated nutritional concept called GRAINSMART Balance, the new product is aimed to achieve the right balance of carbohydrates and fiber, for optimal nutrition – including support for the immune system – and taste.

Using this side stream has helped reduce the cost of ingredients and has allowed Nestlé to develop a nutritious breakfast option that lower-income families can afford.

The new product has been developed by experts at Nestlé’s R&D Center in Abidjan together with the company’s global R&D Network and local markets.

It is now being tested with consumers in Côte d’Ivoire under the Golden Morn brand, ahead of a regional launch in 2022.

“Ensuring that everyone can enjoy affordable, nutritious foods is a priority for Nestlé. Our teams developed the recipe for this porridge to suit local nutritional needs and tastes.

“Using the sorghum side stream is a double win. It provides us with an affordable source of protein and fiber – and helps to reduce food waste and nutrient losses,” said Tesfalidet Haile, Head of Nestlé’s R&D Center in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Golden Morn porridge launch is part of a wider movement within Nestlé towards using agricultural or manufacturing by-products to reduce waste and upcycle nutrients.

The invention of the product is also aimed to bring people more nutritious foods as it is currently a massive global challenge, with three billion people unable to access adequate food.

The current public health crisis coupled with the economic effects of the pandemic has made this situation harder for many vulnerable consumers, particularly in emerging countries, and exacerbated key nutrient deficiencies.

The launch of the innovative product comes a year after Nestlé’s Research & Development Center in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in collaboration with cross-functional teams from Southeast African markets developed and launched Nestlé Cerevita Instant Sour Porridge, an affordable nutritious solution for lower-income consumers.

The porridge is made with wholegrain cereals and fortified with key micronutrients, which are typically lacking in local consumer diets. 

It has a higher fiber and protein content and costs about 20-25% less than the similar products available in local markets.

The porridge was developed with high-quality, locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, while leveraging existing roller drying and dry-mixing technologies.

Nestlé’s R&D Center in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire is part of the global Nestlé R&D network, which consists of 23 locations worldwide.

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